Consumer Protection

4 Things Never to Do On Public Wi-Fi

Technology breeds crime

August 16, 2016|Comments: 0

En español | Fraud expert Frank Abagnale knows that technology breeds crime. One of the richest sources of potential victims: people using free public Wi-Fi. When you are at a public place that offers free Wi-Fi, like your neighborhood coffee shop, the airport, or the library, follow these guidelines:

Don’t access your email, online bank or credit card accounts when on public Wi-Fi. This is because con artists may set up fake networks that seem like the real thing but aren’t (this is known as the “evil twin” scam).

Don’t let your mobile device automatically connect to nearby Wi-Fi. It might connect you to a fake network, and it’s a real battery drainer. You can find a way to turn this feature off in your device’s settings. If you use an iPhone, launch the Settings app, tap on Wi-Fi, and switch the “auto-join” tab to off. If you’re using an Android device, go to Settings, Wireless, Wi-Fi, press the Menu button, choose “Advanced,” and then disable the “Network Notification” option.

Don’t visit a website that requires sensitive information, like a credit card number, on public Wi-Fi. In short, anything that requires a password shouldn’t be accessed on public Wi-Fi.

Wait until you are on a secured private network. While cellphone networks have their own risks, they are generally safer than free public Wi-Fi. Recognize that data charges may apply if you surf using your cellphone network.

Have you been scammed or have you spotted a scam? Share your story on AARP’s interactive Scam-tracking Map. You can also visit the map to read up on law enforcement alerts about scams and fraud in your area.